Expression mechanism for self-playing musical instruments.



fATENTED OUT. 22, 1907.

G. HQDAVIS. EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18.1905.

SHEET 1.

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G. H. DAVIS. EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL IN$TRUMENT S.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18. 1905.

ZSHBETS-SHEET 2.

al ke lawn I instruments, and more'especially to an improved ex- 2,0 piano maybe modified or varied by altering or changing 55- upon the keys otthe musical instrument or upon apart UNI ED sr as was FFIE.

GEORGE .HOWLETT DAVIS, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct... 22, 1907.

duplication filed April 18, 1905. serial No. 258,224.

Il'g'all ughom it may concern;

Be 'it known that I, GEORGE HOVLETT DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Orange, in the county of Essex and Stateof New Jersey, have in- 5 ventedlnew and useful Improvements in Expression Mechanism for Self-Playing Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mechanically operated musical It is a well-knownfact that the musical tones in a the position of rest of the hammers relatively to the strings, just/prior to the stroke thereof, assuming of course, that the hammer actuating means always im pels the hammers with the same degree of force. .111 other words, a hammer will strike a harder blow and cause a greater vibration of its string, when it travels its full distance or stroke, than when its stroke is short; cried. I Various means have heretofore been employed to move the hammer rest rail and thus change the position'of rest of the hammers to modify the musical ton'cs, 'but in all these prior devices, so far as I am aware, it is .customary to locate such mechanism in the upper part of the piano associated with the hammer rest rail. Such I arrangements are objectionable, especially in self- 85 playing attachments where all the key-operating mechanism is located in the lower part of the piano case, because if either of the types of tone modifying moclu anisms just above referred to were employed in conncction with such attachments, the attachment would not 40 be self-contained, so to speak, which is an all-important factor in mechanism of this class. In other words, it is very important that all the actuating and controlling mechanisms be located at about'the' same place in or 'on the piano. 46 A further purpose of the present invention is therefore, to provide'means associated with the actuating elements, whereby the position of said elements relatively to the actuating means therefor, may be changed attire will of the performer to vary the extent of move- 50 ntent, thereof and thereby of the sound producing de- -.vices. a Y f In sell-playing attachments of the .type herein referred it has been the usual custom to cause the striker rods or key actuating elements, to act directly attached to each key. This is objectionable for the reason that when the attachment is in operation the keys alre seen to move, which is not only entirely unnecessary but sometimes proves to be very annoying.

Another object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide means whereby the strikorrods 'or actuating elements may be caused to impinge the rear end of the keys, or may be caused to act directly upon the piano action in which latter case the keys will remain at rest during the playing operation. I also provide means for shifting the operative ends of the striker rods 01' keyactuating elements, so that they may be caused to act either upon the keys or upon the action proper, said means being under the control of the performer.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter referred to and more particularly defined in the claims following the specification.

In order to enable others to understand, make and' use my said invention, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure is asectional elevation illustrating my improved mechanism applied to a well-known type of playing attachment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the controlling, mechanism for the key-actuating elements. Figs. 3, 4, 5, t3 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating the various positions assumed by the keyactuatiug elements in obtaining different musical effects. 7 Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a complete train of mechanism from the actuating mechanism to the sound-producing device, which, in the present instance, is represented as a piano hammer.

I have shown my improvement as applied to a Wellknown type of self-playing attachment, although I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the application of such improvements to the special type of mechanism herein shown,as such improvements may be applied to other types of self-playing attachments without departing from the spirit of the inven- -tion.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a shaft journaled at its-opposite ends iii suitable hangers, one of which is indicated by the reference numeral 2, said hangers being attached to and depending from the roar underside of the key board of the piano, said shaft being rotated through the medium of a belt 3, or otherwise driven from any suitable motor. Siipportcd between and secured to the hangers 2 is a magnet-supporting rail consisting of an L-shapcd bar 4, on which is liked a plurality of electromagnets 5, one for each key of the piano. Fixed to the said magnet bar is a plurality of springs (i, one for each magnet, each of which supports an armature 7 and a. pendent rod 8, and to the lower ends of said rods are 1 10 pivoted as at 9, suitable actuating devices, such devices in the present instance comprising friction shoes 10, the arrangement being such that when the n nets are demagnetizcd and the urmutures in their raised po sitiojns, the lower curved ends ll of the shoes will be held suspended out of engagement with the shaft 1. hut in close proximity thereto.

The reference numeral 12 indicates one of the keyactuating elements in the present instance shown as u striker rod, there being one of such elements or rods for each shoe and key. Each rod is pivoted at its lower end to the outer upper corner of its friction shoe and is vertically movable in rear of the keyboard of the piano and arranged at its upper end to impinge the under side of the pin 13 on the rear end of the piano key 14, and thus raise the latter to actuate the proper sound producing device and sound the corresponding note It will be apparent from the foregoing that when any one of the magnets 5 is energized, its unit-attire? will be attracted thereby forcing the corresponding shoe into contact with the shaft 1, which latter is consnintly rotated by its motor in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. The rotation oi the drum in the direction indicated, will throw the shoe it) in the direction oi the arrow thereon, thereby thrusting upward the striker rod 13 and depressing the lo'rwztrd end of the corresponding piano key 14, and through the cooperating sound producing device sounding the correspond ing note. When the magnet is denntgneti'lled, the spring 6 raises the armature and lifts the shoe out of engagement with the shaft 1, whereupon the shoe will drop by gravity back against the adjustable and movuhlo rest rnil now to he described It will be evident that tiny movement of the friction shoe in the direction of the arrow thereon, will tend to ruise its striker rod and with it the rear end of the piano key 14 and the piano action supported thereon. it will also be apparent that the raising of the action will throw the piano hammer (:is seen in Fig. 8) toward the string. Hence, ii the friction shoe is given such move ment initially prior to being brought into 'contnct with the continuously rotating shaft, the position of the hammer relatively to the string will be varied corresponding to the movement given to the shoe and as the shoe is alvzays impelled by the continuously rotating shaft with the same degree of force, it will be seen that the stroke of die hammer upon its string will depend upon the position of the hammer relatively to the stri ng before the shoe is impelled.

The mechanism I employ for shifting the position oi the shoe relatively to the continuously rotating shaft consists of a rest rail 15 arrztnged'transversely with respect to the line of friction shoes, said rest-rail in the, present instance being composed of two ttlined sections pivotally connected at their meeting ends by means of a pivot pin 16. These rest-mil sections are supported in such manner that they may be simultaneously or independently moved and may ulso he moved at an angle to each other and to a line taken centrally and iongitudinally of the shaft, so that the position of all or only a group oi the shoes relatively to the shaft may he changed or varied, whereby to vary the extent oi movement of some of the shoes independently of the others, or to a greater degree thun others, to produce Variou gradations in the musical tones.

shaft 22. These rock shafts are each provided with separate operating levers 23, 2- and having suitable linger-keys or buttons 26, all as shown and described in my pending application for hetters Patent. Serial .io. M1387.

By referring to Fig. 2 oi the drawing, it will he seen thnt the linger keys tire marked with the t-lninu-ters ll, )l and 'l, respectively; the key l3 controlling through the rock'shait 20, arm 18, and lever .33, one section of the rest mil and the bass keys oi the piano; the key lettered L\l controlling throughthe rock slntit ruin 21, and the lever 4, the central or hinged portion of the rest rail. and the middle range of the pram, and the key letterwl 'l controlling through the rock shnit l9, srm l7 and lover the other section oi the rest rail and the treble or upper part of the piuud ll be understood, therei'ore, that if the key leitercd T is depressed, the righthand section of the restroil will he thrust forward to move the friction shoes over the shaft and at an angle to 21 line lukcn longitudinally and centrally of the slutft, in which position one slroe will he slightly in advance of its adjacent shoe, as shown in Fig. :3 of the drawing. The same is true with respect to the key lettered ll, only in this case the left-hand section of the rest-rail will he thus moved at nn angle to the line taken centrally and longitudimilly oi the shaft, in which cuse tho shoes will nssume it position correspmuling to thnt shown diugrumnmticztlly in Fig. t. If, on the other hand, both keys lettered l uud T are depresed, hotli sections of the rest-mil will he thrust. iorwurd so that the shoes will nssume the position illustrated in Fig. und ii only the ct'ntrul key lettered M is depressed,

hen the middle portion of the rest rail will be thrust lorwrtrd in which case the shoes will assume the position indicated in Fig. If all three keys are simultaneously depressed, then all the shoes will ussunie a. position corresponding to that illustrated in Fl". 1%, in which case the line of shoes will lie purullt-l with a line token centrully rind longitudinally of the shaft, only the distance of travel of all the shoes will be shortened alike, mid the notes sounded will all be the sumo in character.

it will be apparent that the construction shown and described permits various other movements of the rest-mil and shoes, whereby to obtain different. tone effects; nnd it will also he nppurent that the extent of movement of the shoes relatively to the shaft will depend entirely upon the extent of depression of tho levers 23, 3-! and 35.

lfroin the foregoing it will he understood that the improvement sought to be protected resides broadly in menus for varying the position of the sound-prosuid menus cooperating with the uctunting elements.

As mentioned in the brief statement of the objects of the present invention, a further feature resides in l to a rock ducing devices or lnunmers relatively to the strings,

llfi

7 the. action will be operated. This is the case when ..-shoe. V With this construction it will be seen that the striker rods will act directly upon the action and in backward and forward to accomplish the purpose the performer,

' Vic sdmounting the striker rods or other equivalent ele end of the piano keys, or directly upon the action, and

vend is reached.

shownlis another part. The lower end of the said ,each part 27,, or to any other suitable part of the ac- I also provide means for shifting the position of the ends of the striker rods relatively to the heads 30.

v to the specific construction and arrangementoi oper-' -tion at the instrument for shifting the posiii'on ofsaid struments tlie combination with the sorind-producing vices, of d plurality of friction shoes, means operable by seaeso ments that they may be caused to act upon the rear 1 will now proceed to describe themeans whereby this The reterence numeral 27, (seeFig. l) designates a part of the piano action, of which the hammer (not part 27 rests upon a capstan screw 28, screwed into the rear end of each piano key, and it will bo understood that wheneyer the rear end of the key is raised,

the striker-rod impinges the piano key or a part carbefore stated. To obviate this objection I attach to tion, an outstanding arm or bracket 29, having a head 30, at-its' lower end with which the upper cud-of the striker rod may engage when thrust upward by its the playing operationthc keys will remain at rest.

striker rodsso that they may be caused to act'upon the keys, or directly'upon the action as stated, said means consisting of an angle bar 31, extending lengthwise of the action, said 'bar being provided with a plurality of apertures 32, through which the striker rods freely pass'as shown. i The angle bar 31 is moved above stated, by means of longitudinal arms 33, one attached to each end of the bar, said means sliding in slotted brackets 34, as shown. Stop pins or lugs 35 are carried by each'arm 33 and arranged to engage the brackets 3&1, tolimit the back 'ard movement of the angle bar and insure proper positioning of the upper The free ends of the arms 33 may projectlorward toward the front of thelpiano so as to be in easyreach of I do not wish 'tobe understood as limiting inyseli ating parts herein shown and described, as these may be variedv to suit the particular type of instrument on which they are employed, it being understood that the showing herein is only by way oi example.

In the appended claims I use the tc'rm SOCiIld-PIO': ducing device to denote the piano hammcrythe hammer action, or any similar device that is calcu-. lated to cause a vibration of a string or other sounder.

, Having thus described my invention, what claim as new aud'dcsire to secure bylottors Patent is 1. In expression mechanism for selr playiu music instruments. the combination with the soundproducing dc r a plurality of actuating elements thercl'or, means for actuating said elements, and manually operable means iimlcr the control of the performer when in playing posi acdceleiuents relatively to said actuating means whereby to crease or dimin the extent of movement of the said touting elements-and thereby of the sourid-producing vices. j,

2, In gcprossion mechanism [or sclll playing musical soundproduciug devices. l

said shoes for actuating the sound prodnciug devices, a to tar-y shaft for operating the shoes, and manually operable means-under the control of the performer when in pluyng position at the instrument for shifting the position of the SllQC-S'IGl kill'VElYlO the shaft whereby to increase or diminish the extent of movement thereof and thereby of the sound-producing devices. '1 I I 3, In, expression mechanism for selfplaying musical instrumntsfthe combination with the sound producing devices, of a plural y of frlctlon shoes, means operable by said shoes for actuating the soundproducing devices, a r0- tary shaft for operating the shoes, and manually operablemenns under the control of! the performer when in playingv position at the instrumentjor shifting at ,will the position of the shoes relatively to the sl1aft whereby to. increase or diminish the extent of movement thereof and thereby'of the soundproducing devices. i

4. in expression mechanism for musical instruments. the combination with the'soun'd-produclng devices, of a plurality of friction shoes, striker rods operable by the shoes tor actuating the sound-producing devices, a rotary shaft for operating the shoes, and manually operable means under the control of the performer when in playing position at the instrument for shifting at will the position of the shoes relative to the shaft whereby to increase or db minish the extent ofrnovement thereof and thcrcliyof the 1n exp. ion mechanism for musical instruments, the combination with the sound-producing devices, of a plurality of actuating elements therefor, means for nctuuting said elements, and manually operable means under the control of'thc performer when in playing position at the instrument mshifting the position of some of sold eiemeni's independent of others, relatively to said actuatlng ineans, whereby to increase ordiminisli the extent of movement of the said actuating elements and thereby ,oi the sound-producing devices.

6. In expression mechanism for musical instruments,

.the combination with the sound-producing devices, of a plurality of actuating elements therefor, means for actu atlng said elements, and manually operable means under the control of the performer "when in playingposltion at the instrument for shifting the position of some of said elements, independent of others, relatively to the said domating means, whereby to shorten the extent of movement of the actuating elements nndtliereby of the sound producing devices. 4

7. in expression mechanism for musical instruments, the combination with the-sound-pi-oduciug devices, of a plurality of friction shoes for actuatlng said devices, a rotary shaft forectunti'ng the shoes, a freely movable rest rail or said shoes, and manually operable means under the control of the performer when in playing position at theinstrumentfor moving the restd'ailnt will to change the position of the shoes relatively to the shaft.

8. In expression mechanism for musical instruments, the con'ibination with the soundproducing devices, of a plurality of frictionshocs for actuating said devices, a rotary shaft or actuating the shoes, a freely movable rest-rail for'said shoes, sold rest-rail being made in sec tlons and manually operable means under-the control of the performer when in playing position at the instrument for moving the said rest-rail sections.

9. In expressionmechanism for musical instruments, the combination with the sound-producing devices, of a plur: oi friction shoes for actuating said devices, a rotary shaft for actuating the shoes, a movable resbrail for the shoes composed of separate independently movable sections, and means for independently operating, either section of the rest-rail. x V: 10. in expression mechanism for musical instruments, the combination with the sound-producing devices, of a. plurality of friction shocs for actuating said devices, a rotary drum for actuatingthe shoes. a movable rest-rail for sold shoes, said rest rail being composed of flexibly councctcd sections, and manually operable menus under the conrol of the performer for flexing the rest-ruil'intermediate its ends whereby to-cause the middle range of shoes to lie on converging lines.

and the manual keys for operating said devicesdmeans for actuating said devices through the medium of the keys or independently thereof.

12. in combination with the sound-producing devices and the manual keys therefor, means for actuating: said devices. and shiftable means for causing sai dactuatinc; means to act directly upon thedteys or upon the said devices.

iii. in combination with the sound-producing devices, and the manual keys therefor, an extension on each separate sound producing device, means for actuating said devices. and shiftablc means for causing said actuating means to act upon the rear end of the manual keys or upon the said extensions. Y

H. ih combination with the sound'producing devices and the manual keys therefor. an extension on each sound produciua' device. striker rods, and means for shifting; said rods to cause them to cna'aa'c the keys direct or the said extensions if. in combination with the soundproducilig devices and the manual kegs therefor, an extension on each sountl protlucilig device. striker rods. a bar having apertures throne-h which the striker rods pass, and means for shifting the position of the bar to cause the striker rods to act cilhcr upon the keys or upon the said extensions it, in combination with the sound-producing devices and the manual in therefor, striker rods, a bar having,

apertures through which the striker rods pass, and means for shifting the position of said bar to cause the striker rods to act either upon" the keys or upon the said sound producing devices direct ii. in combination with the sound producing devices of a piano, a playing attachment comprising a rotary shaft and a plurality of friction shocs coliperating therewith for actuating said devices, a rest-rail cooperating with said shocs. and manually operable levers under the control of the performer for SilifiiIll-f at will the position'uf said rest-rail and shoes relatively to the shaft. whereby to increase or decrease the extent of movement thereof and i thereby of the sound producing. devices.

thereof and thereby of the piano hammerslrelatively to the a rest-rail for the shoes, a movable support for said rest rail, and manually operable means under the control of the performer for actuating said movable support for the purpose specified.

20. A piano having a playing attachment comprising a rotary shaft and a plurality of frictionshoes, means actuated by the shoes for operating the piano hammers, a sectional resbrall for the shoes. a movable support for said rest-rail, and manually operable means under the control of the performer for actuating either section of the restrail independent of the other for the purpose specified.

21. in mechanism of the class described. the combination with the piano hammers, of a plurality of friction shoes for impelling the hamm rs against their strings, means for actuating the friction shoes,,and means for tleitina the line of friction shoes intermediate the ends of the line for the purpose specified. I

22. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with the piano hammers, of a plurality of friction shoes arranged in a right line for impclliny: the hammers against their strings. means for actuatingthe friction shoes, and means for canting a portion of the said line of shoes relatively to the actuating means and without affecting the position of the the purpose specified.

23. A piano having); a playing attachment comprising a rotary shaft and a plurality of friction shoes, means actuated by the shoes for impelling the piano hammers against their strings, uicans coiiperatinp with the friction shoes for shifting their normal position of rest relatively to the said shaft and thereby the position of the piano hammers relatively to their strings, and manually operable means under the control of the performer when in playing position at the piano for operating said shoe-shifting means at will,

in testimony whereof i have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing: witnesses uiafiltGE HOWLETT DAVIS.

Witnesses:

J. Ginmviml c Mni'nns, C. G. HEYLiiiiL remainder of the line, for. 

